Ask Jeff & Anthony

Labels are for those who want to use them!

Submitted By: Jeff
Date: February 24

In Answer To: Labels Labels Labels (Tom V)

I've learned from my own experience and from hearing so many stories from Kurfew goers that sexuality is an incredibly complicated and diverse thing. The range of sexual feeling and expression is so diverse, in fact, that the few labels that we have (gay, straight, bisexual, etc.) are meaningless for many people. But humans have a natural inclination to categorize everything!

If it makes you happy, don't worry about labels. If someone asks about you, you might just tell them that your sexuality is personal, or that you're bisexual or that you're "still working on it," It's really up to you, but there's no law that says you need to pledge your allegiance to one label or another.

Your story is interesting because unlike many gay people who report feeling and identifying as "gay" since birth, I too grew up with heterosexual feelings up until the age of about 13. I remember being intensely attracted to a particular girl in my 6th grade class, and used to get very aroused by fantasing about female anatomy. But that all changed for me around 13 and 14. And now I consider myself gay, because my sexual attraction has turned around 180 degrees.

It's important to appreciate the diversity and fluidity of sexuality. When you find yourself incredibly attracted to someone, and the feeling is mutual, the concept of labels will be meaningless. In fact, more than anything else, it's usually the act of falling in love with somebody that has helped people to fully appreciate their sexuality.

Questions In This Thread

• Labels Labels Labels
  Tom V -- February 19
  • Labels are for those who want to use them!
    Jeff -- February 24

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